African lion cubs Adari and Zarina have officially made their debut in the lion habitat at Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, Fla., and are now visible to guests in the drive-through preserve.
Born on 21 April to first-time mom Mara, the cubs have been spending the past few months bonding with Mara and growing under the close care of the wildlife team. After several successful health checks and careful introductions to the pride, the cubs are now exploring their large habitat and adapting well to life with the other females. Mashika, a three-year-old female and half-sister to the cubs, is a special favorite playmate for Adari and Zarina.
“The cubs have been spending a lot of time with Mashika. They enjoy running, playing, and napping with her, and when things get too rambunctious, Mara, their mom, will step in to quiet things down,” said Ashleigh Kandrac, general curator at Lion Country Safari. “Mara has been doing a fantastic job raising and protecting her cubs, and it’s been extremely rewarding for our team to see them hit all their milestones and now venture out into the habitat with the pride.”
The community has been involved in the cubs’ lives from the beginning, checking in on Lion Country Safari’s first-ever live ‘Cub Cam’ to watch them flourish. Followers also played a special role in naming the cubs through online voting earlier this summer. After two rounds of voting, the final names were chosen from a list of 734 submissions from the public.
With the addition of Adari and Zarina, Lion Country Safari is now home to 12 African lions, the largest pride in human care within a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Photos Credit: © Lion Country Safari
Back to All Stories